Category Archives: Atlanta

Spend a weekend in Atlanta and a couple hours in Medieval Times. Vacations Made Easy has a great vacation package, Medieval Times Atlanta, which includes two nights lodging in your choice of more than 90 Atlanta hotels, and admission to Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament.

Enjoy a four-course meal fit for a king, while you are entertained by the jousting and sword-fighting of the valiant knights vying for the tournament championship. The Master of Horse and the Royal Falconer are both in attendance at the tournament to showcase magnificent animal performers. The Master of Horse and a team of Pure Spanish horses will demonstrate exemplary equestrian talent. Pure Spanish horses were prized by medieval royalty for their strength and skill. The Royal Falconer’s beautiful hawks and falcons will soar over the arena and amaze as they show their natural speed and agility.

After the rousing entertainment, head back to your amenity filled hotel for a relaxing rest. There’s still time while you’re in Atlanta to catch some other area attractions. The World of Coca-Cola or Stone Mountain Park.

American’s second favorite book, ranked just after the Bible, is Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. Set in Atlanta during the Civil War and the following Reconstruction, this extensive historic novel spans 12 years in the life of Southern Belle, Scarlett O’Hara.

Many people today are more familiar with the 1939 film, starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, than the actual text, first printed in 1937, although today, more than 30 million copies have been printed. The story opens with a backdrop of the Rebellion and Secession of States from the Union to form the Confederate States of America, and is a coming of age story about the protagonist, who grew up a spoiled daughter of a cotton plantation owner, as well as the coming of age of a Nation. Exploring the social issues of the Caste System, Civil War, Slavery and a romance story as well, Gone with the Wind is fictional, but has become a part of American culture.

If you are one of the millions of fans of Gone with the Wind, or you just enjoy history, you can immerse yourself in the places woven into Mitchell’s novel, on a Gone with the Wind Tour. You’ll learn about the novel’s setting, and the historical battles of the civil war that are central to the story, and hear tales of the real-life inspirations for the book’s characters.

Your tour will stop outside the Warren House, where a young news reporter, Margaret Mitchell found the names and sentiments of soldiers who fought in the Battle of Jonesboro. You’ll take a walk through a Memorial Confederate Cemetery, where more than 700 Confederate soldiers lie in rest, but only three are known by name. The tour makes a stop at the Phillip Fitzgerald House, Mitchell’s maternal family home.

Make plans now to be in Atlanta September 4 – 7 for one of the biggest art festivals in the country. The Yellow Daisy Festival features more than 400 artists and crafters, from across the United States displaying and selling their original works of art.

The festival, in its 46th year, is held annually at Stone Mountain Park, in the Events Meadow. There simply is not a more picturesque setting for such an event. Wander the paved paths lined with artisan booths under a canopy of big shade trees. The mission of the festival is re-connecting families and friends with fun, shopping, live entertainment and great food. Generations of mothers, daughter and grandmothers meander the wooded trails together in search of perfect one-of-a-kind items.

The men aren’t left out, however. The festival provides a ‘men’s den’ equipped with reclining easy chairs and a big screen TV. The perfect place to watch the game with guys and appreciate all the food-truck items you expect to find at a festival, like corn dogs, burgers, BBQ, and it just would not be a festival without funnel cakes.

The Stone Mountain Park which hosts the festival is a trove of activities to enjoy while you are not strolling and shopping. The park is named for the 825 foot high Quartz Monzonite dome within the park, which features the worlds largest bas relief, a memorial to three figures of the Confederate States and their favorite horses. You’ll marvel at the enormity of the depiction of Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. September visitors are treated to the blooming of the Confederate Yellow Daisy, which blooms in abundance on and around the mountain, and is found only within a 60 mile radius of the mountain.

While visiting Stone Mountain be sure to ride to the top of the mountain on Skyride, for an incredible unobstructed view of the relief carving, the Atlanta skyline and the Appalachian Mountains. You should also spend some time at the Antebellum Plantation & Farmyard. The plantation is a collection of restored buildings furnished in 18th and early 19th Century decor, portraying an accurate depiction of life in those days. Plus they offer a working cookhouse, traditional garden and farmyard.

Just because the kids are heading back to school, it doesn’t have to mean the end of family trips. You can still take weekend getaways to get a break from the daily routine, and recharge your batteries.

Why not spend a couple days in Atlanta, and unwind at Six Flags over Georgia? Nothing revives an over-studied teenager like a ride on Mind Bender, a triple-looping roller coaster. To really de-stress take an insane 4G ride on The Goliath, with 12-story drops, speeds of 70 mph, this hypercoaster careens you back to life.

If the back to school blues has you missing out on precious family time, enjoy some of the great family rides at the park. Brave the rapids together at Thunder River, or race for bragging rights on the Gold Town Racers go karts.

Did you know that Coca-Cola was born in Atlanta? Its true. Back in 1886 the formula was perfected and sold locally for five cents per serving. About nine servings per day were sold.

Fast forward to today, when nearly two billion servings per day are sold globally. The company now creates more than 500 beverages, sold in 200 countries, but for the first 70 years, they sold only their cola. 1955 brought the first addition to the product line with the introduction of Fanta Orange.

While in Atlanta, why not visit The World of Coca-Cola, a permanent exhibition all about the history of this iconic brand. View the vault where the formula for the world famous drink is secured. Stop by the Perfect Pauses theater and watch the best Coke TV ads over the years and around the world. Check out fan art in the cleverly named Pop Culture Gallery, and of course there’s a tasting room with more than 100 flavors!

Coca-Cola is an American icon, and your family will have a great time at the World of Coca-Cola. You can visit there and other great Atlanta attractions like The Atlanta Zoo, High Museum of Art, and the Atlanta History Center with the CityPASS. It includes admission to these and other Atlanta hot spots, and its good for nine days, so you can explore at your own pace.

Crucial to the outcome of the US Civil war, the fall of the City of Atlanta into Union hands during the Battle of Jonesboro, is an epic turning point in American History, and a focal point of study for many ‘civil-war buffs.’ The rich history of Atlanta has been much romanticized especially in Margaret Mitchell’s novel and the time-honored classic movie, Gone With the Wind.

Learn more about the Battle of Jonesboro, why it was chosen as the setting for Gone With the Wind, and hear captivating stories about the historic homes on The Southern Belles and Whistles Tour. Covering more than 100 years of history and heritage, you’ll follow the path of brave men and Southern Belles on this historical journey.

Stops on the tour include the Road to Tara Museum, Clayton County Jail & History Center, and the Patrick R. Cleburne Memorial Confederate Cemetery, where many of the fallen soldiers from the final battle of the Atlanta Campaign find their final resting place.

You’ll also drive by Warren House, which served as a military hospital, the iconic intersection of Scarlett Dr. and Rhett Butler Dr., Ashley Oaks Mansion, and Stately Oaks Plantation.

A historical, educational journey, and a wonderful way to spend a day of your Atlanta vacation package.

You can get all that and more when you visit Stone Mountain Park. With 3200 acres of adventure and entertainment, you can please the whole family.

Ride the Summit Skyride. A Swiss cable car that takes you up 825 feet in the beautiful Applachian Mountains for an amazing view of the Confederate Memorial Carving and the Atlanta skyline. At Geyser Towers, three towers that surpass the treetops are accessible by suspended rope tunnels and bridges. To the delight of overheated children, several fountains of water shoot into the air over the exposed bridges, effectively soaking everyone who isn’t under a tower roof.

Take a ‘Tree-top hike’ as you adventure safely through the canopy at the Skyhike attraction. The park offers shows like the Lasershow Spectacular with state-of-the-art digital graphics displayed on one of the world’s largest outdoor screens.

Get some nature time hiking the more than 15 miles of trails, fishing in the 363-acre lake, or a relaxing picnic in one of the park’s picnic areas. You can even get in a round of golf on one of the two 18-hole courses.

Learn history the fun way at The Antebellum Plantation & Farmyard. The plantation is a collection of original buildings that have been restored. Filled with period furniture and classic 18th and 19th century southern decorations, each building is an accurate portrayal of lifestyles past. The plantation also features a working cookhouse, traditional southern garden, and a farmyard where kids can pet the animals and learn the role of livestock in the old south.

There is so much to do at Stone Mountain Park, its a perfect mix of excitement, education, and relaxation.